The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, opened to the public on February 14 in downtown Las Vegas on the 83rd anniversary of the Chicago St. Valentine's Day Massacre – considered by many as the most notorious hit in Mob history. One of the Museum's iconic artifacts is the brick wall against which the members of the Bugs Moran gang were lined up and shot and killed by members of Al Capone's gang.
"The Mob Museum is a world-class destination created by a team of researchers and creative experts who are the best in their respective fields," said Jonathan Ullman, executive director of The Mob Museum. "The end result is a modern and contemporary look at a subject that continues to fascinate the world. And it's a story that has no end because organized crime continues to evolve and impact our global economy even today."
According to Ellen Knowlton, former FBI Special Agent in Charge, Las Vegas Division, and a 24-year FBI veteran who now heads The Mob Museum's non-profit board of directors, The Mob Museum is one of the most unique museums in the country. "Our goal is to accurately tell the stories of organized crime and how it shaped our country. The Museum also celebrates the victories of law enforcement and gives visitors insider access to wiretaps and other information uncovered through sophisticated surveillance and sting operations. It's highly interactive and clearly educational."
The grand opening kicked off with an early morning mass wedding and vow renewal ceremony in The Mob Museum's historic courtroom – the same courtroom where one of the 14 Kefauver nationwide hearings took place in 1950 to expose organized crime. Seven couples from throughout the country were randomly drawn via a national "Married at The Mob Museum" promotion. The ceremony was officiated by Oscar B. Goodman, former Las Vegas Mayor and once the Mob's go-to defense attorney. Goodman, who now serves on the Museum's board of directors and is one of the Museum's original visionaries, received his ministerial ordination expressly for this historic event.
Visit http://themobmuseum.org